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Hughes: We are not selling Barton

Comment: 0 January 16th, 2012 by: admin

HE may be underperforming lately but Joey Barton is not for sale.

That was the announcement made by newly-appointed Queens Park Rangers manager Mark Hughes on Sunday as he denied reports that his captain is ready to be disposed of.

Hughes has been reported to be willing to off-load the controversial player but dismissed the claims by saying he wanted to keep him with the team.

“I saw [the Barton story] and I think it’s one of those maybe-mischief making Sunday stories, said Hughes, who took over the Hoops bench chores on Tuesday after Neil Warnock got the axe.

He added: “From my point of view, there’s certainly no suggestion that we are thinking in those terms.’’

Hughes made the disclosure as QPR were beaten 0-1 by Newcastle United at Sports Direct Arena with Barton out of the lineup due to a suspension brought about by his red-card offence against Norwich recently.

To stress his point, Hughes added he needs more quality players like Barton, a former Manchester City and Newcastle playmaker.

After tasting his first defeat as QPR boss, Hughes said he will spend big to reenergise the team.

Among those he is eyeing to snare are Blackburn defender Chris Samba, Fulham striker Andy Johnson, Manchester City defender Nedum Onouha and Sao Paolo forward Henrique.

QPR has already made a £3.5-million bid for Chelsea centre-half Alex but it was turned down.

Hughes reiterated that Barton is captain of the club and a quality player they are looking for and “not to get those type of players out of the building.’’

Defending his plan to acquire more players, he said: “If there’s quality available then we’ll pursue that buy.’’

Hughes emphasised that they have to be the right players who can come in and make a major impact because “otherwise there’s no point in bringing them.’’

The loss to the Magpies left QPR without a win from their last nine league games and in the relegation zone, third bottom of the table.

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